WENHAM — Chief Thomas Perkins is pleased to announce that the Wenham Police Department has earned full re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).

The department received its award at a ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Connors Center in Dover.

“This is a prized achievement for us, as it reflects the culmination of a department-wide effort to provide top-level service to our community day in and day out,” Chief Perkins said. “I’m thankful to all of our officers for participating in this process and for their eagerness to hold themselves to the highest of professional standards.”

The accreditation process is long and rigorous. It involves both an internal self-review and an external assessment by the commission’s team of experts. The process is a self-initiated evaluation by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the top standards of law enforcement. It is considered the best measure for a police department to compare itself against the established best practices around the country and region.

The Wenham Police Department was assessed on Oct. 17-19 by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for accreditation.

To conduct the initial self-assessment and prepare for the on-site review of the 257 mandatory standards and 125 optional standards by the Commission, Chief Perkins appointed Capt. Kevin DiNapoli to serve as the department’s Accreditation Manager. Capt. DiNapoli assumed the diverse set of responsibilities associated with that role upon the retirement of former Accreditation Manager, Capt. Jeff Tobey.

Sgt. Jon Gray and Officer Bill Carney also made significant contributions to the department’s re-accreditation efforts, helping smooth the transition and enabling the department to maintain the honor.

This is the second time the Wenham Police Department has earned accreditation through MPAC. They first earned the accolade in 2014 after initially receiving certification in 2010.

The commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation the higher of the two. Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.